IT'S taken 18 years to restore and cost more than $2 million, but heritage rail enthusiasts celebrated a milestone on Thursday when a 1951 Scottish-built locomotive passed speed and load trials on the public rail system.
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The Hudson Class 4-6-4 express passenger steam loco, number R766, was brought to the Hunter by rail enthusiast Chris Richards, backer of the Hunter Valley Railway Museum at North Rothbury.
Mr Richards said the R766 was the only R-Class loco converted from Victorian broad gauge to NSW standard gauge, and its coal-fired boiler was modified to run on diesel fuel oil, making it much cleaner, environmentally.
Once the R766 had finished its trials this week and has been fully certified to carry passengers, there are plans for the loco to pull excursion carriages under "The Picnic Train" banner.
The Newcastle Herald reported last year on the fight to keep the North Rothbury heritage rail museum going after it was issued with an eviction notice by the developers of the Hunter's newest town, Huntlee.
The battle is due in court next week.
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